Reach-rod guide.



P F. J. com. I REACH BOD GUIDE.

APPLIOATIOR FILED TEB.14, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Aug. 30, 1910.

WITNESSES FRANCIS J. COLE, OF SCHENEGTADY, NEW YORK.

REACH-ROD GUIDE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 30, 1910.

Application filed February 14, 1910. Serial No. 543,690.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, F RANGIS J. COLE, of Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Reach- Rod Guides, of which improvement the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide simple and efficient means for preventing chattering and vibration of the reach rods of locomotive engines, which members are, in some of the present standard types, of considerable length, and, to this end, my invention, generally stated, consists in the combination, with a locomotive engine reach rod, of a fixed guide having a double inclined guide slot, and a block connected to the reach rod and traversing in said guide.

The improvement claimed is hereinafter fully set forth.

In'the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side view, in elevation, of a locomotive engine, illustrating an application of my invention; Fig. 2, a side view, in elevation, and on an enlarged scale, of the guide; Fig. 3, a plan or top view of the same; and, Fig. 4, a transverse section, on the line a a of Fig. 2.

My invention is herein exemplified as applied upon a locomotive engine of the Atlantic or l4-2 type, the boiler, 4, of which is carried upon side frame members, 5, supported on four driving wheels, 1, the axles of which are journaled in bearings on the frame members; a four wheeled leading truck, 2; and a two wheeled trailing truck, 3. The distribution valves of the cylinders, 12, are actuated by valve gears which, in this instance, are shown as of the IValschaert type. The valve gears are adjusted, in the ordinary manner, to effect the reversal of the direction of movement of the locomotive, and the variation of the point of out off, as from time to time desired, by appropriate oscillation of a lifting shaft or tumbling shaft, 6, carrying an arm 10, which is coupled, by a reach rod, 9, to a reverse lever, 12, journaled in bearings in the cab, 5

The construction, so far as above described, is a standard one, and does not embody my present invention.

In the practice of my invention, I provide a reach rod guide, 13, which is a substantial plate of metal, as cast steel, set vertically and having its sides finished truly, and provided with side lugs, 13*, on its top, for the reception of bolts by which it is rigidly secured to a suitable support on or connected to the boiler, 4. In the instance shown, the guide is connected to the running board, 5*, which forms a convenient supporting means, but a separate bracket, secured to the boiler, may be provided if preferred. A slot or guide way, 13', is formed inthe guide, said slot being downwardly inclined or curved from the middle of the guide toward each of its ends. The inclination of the slot corresponds, as nearly as may be, with the combined vertical movement of the reverse lever and lifting shaft arm, so as to approximate the rise and fall of the reach rod in adjustment to its varying positions due to different points of cut-off in forward or back motion, and provide, through the following members, means for controlling vertical and preventing lateral movement of the reach rod. The reach rod, 9, is indicated as made of extra heavy pipe, as, say, 2% inches diameter, but may, if preferred, be of ordinary rectangular cross section, and is provided with a clamp, 14, which is secured rigidly upon it by a transverse bolt, 14*, passing through spring jaws, 14?, on the lower side of the clamp. Spring jaws, 14, project from the upper side of the clamp, and fit against the sides of the guide, 13, so as to prevent lateral movement of the reach rod, and a block, 15, which is fitted to traverse freely in the slot, 13, of the guide, is interposed between said jaws, in said slot, and is connected to the jaws by a transverse bolt, 15 The block, 15, may, if preferred, be made in the form of a roller working on the bolt, 15 this form having the advantage of reducing friction.

It will be seen that by the above construction, which is simple, inexpensive, and of ready applicability to locomotive engines of the present standard types, abnormal vertical and lateral movements of the reach rod, and consequent vibration and chattering, are effectually prevented. In view of the considerable size and weight of reach rods in large locomotives of recent design, this advantage will be recognized as a substantial one by those familiar with locomotive construction.

I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. The combination of a reverse lever, a lifting shaft arm, a reach rod coupled to said reverse lever and lifting arm, a fixed guide having trued sides and a slot inclined relatively to the reach rod, a block working in the slot of the guide, and connections fitting the sides of the guide and coupling said block to the reach rod.

2. The combination of a reverse lever, a lifting shaft arm, a reach rod coupled to said reverse lever and lifting arm, a fixed guide having a slot which is downwardly inclined from its middle toward its ends, a block working in said slot, and connections coupling said block to said reach rod.

3. The combination of a reverse lever, a lifting shaft arm, a reach rod coupled to said reverse lever and lifting arm, a fixed uicle having a slot which is downwardly inclined from its middle toward its ends, a block working in said slot, and a clamp secured to said reach rod and to said block. r

4?. The combination of a reverse lever, a lifting shaft arm, a reach rod coupled to said reverse lQVQl and lifting arm, a fixed guide having a slot which is downwardly inclined from its middle toward its ends, a block working in said slot, a clamp having lower jaws embracing the reach rod and upper jaws embracing the block, and bolts connecting said jaws to the reach rod and the block, respectively.

5. A guide for locomotive engine reach rods, consisting of a metal plate having trued bearing surfaces on its sides, a 1011-, gitudinal slot which is downwardly inclined from its middle toward its ends, and lugs on its top for attachment to a fixed support.

FRANCIS J. COLE. lVitnesses HAL. R. STAFFORD, CHAS. J. Rooms. 

